Apparatus for continuously processing metal strips



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APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY PROCESSING METAL STRIPS Fil ed April 15, 194118 Sheets-Sheet 17 MASTER P/NC'HROLL U MOTOR-'7' TUBE C/(IIT MOTORS FOR74 KE-UP REEL'S INVENTORS M10016, tau/:1. Mum andFRA/VKE. ROBINSON,

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' 'Oct. 22, 1946., F. w. LORIG' ETA!- APPAR A'I'US FOR CONTINUOUSLYPROCESSING METAL STRIPS 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 Filed April 15, 1941' fwwPatented Oct. 22, 1946 APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY PROCESS- ING METALSTRIPS Frank W. Lorig, Lakewood, Louis L. Miller, Garfield Heights, andFrank E. Robinson, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignors to The American Steeland Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationApril 15, 1941, Serial No. 388,708

This invention relates to the continuous processing of metal strips and,more particularly, is directed to an improved means for performing a.heat treatment on one or several strips of steel wherein the exposureof the strip to the processing treatment can be very carefully regulatedand critically controlled.

There are some types of steel which are produced in strip form, such assilicon steels intended for use in electrical apparatus, which strips,in order to develop the optimum in physical or electrical properties,have to be subjected to carefully controlled heat treatment. In the108.58 of electrical sheets, such processing is carried out by batchannealing or normalizing processes which are facilitated by the physicalshape of the material being treated, rendering special equipment ingiving effect thereto unnecessary. In the case of strip steel, however,the commercial requirements are such as to render the production of allwidths of strip steel, ranging from 6 wide, or less, up to 42" andwider, necessary. The elaborate heating furnaces and appurtenantequipment that must be applied in performing the continuous annealing ofsuch strips, renders prohibitive the provision of separate processinglinesfor each strip, or each width of strip to be operated upon. It is,therefore, one of the main considerations of the present invention toprovide a unitary line for the continuous heat treatment of one or morestrips irrespective of the widths thereof up to a predetermined maximum.7

In accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated that,either one strip of maximum width, or a plurality of strips of lesswidths, the total of which does not materially exceed the strip ofmaximum width, can be processed simultaneously, with each strip beingindependently controlled and regulated in its course through theprocessing zones .of the line without interference with or from theadjacentstrips being processed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a partial plan view of the improved apparatus of thisinvention;

Figure l is a continuation of the apparatus, this view continuing fromthe line acl, Figures 1 and 1*; Figure 1 is a further continuation ofthe apparatus, this view continuing from the line bb, Figures l and 1Figure 1 is a further continuation of the apparatus, the view continuingfrom the line cc, Figures 1 and ,1;

Figure 2 .is a partial sectional elevation of the apparatus, the viewbeing taken .along the center line of Figure 1; V

Figure 2 is a continuation of'Figure 2, the

4 Claims. (Cl. 2712.3)

the letter X) showing of this view continuing from the line a--a ofFigures 2 and 2 Figure 2 is a still further extension of the apparatus,the view continuing from the line b-b of Figures 2 and 2'; Figure 2 is astill further extension of the apparatus, this view continuin from theline c--c of Figures 2 and 2;

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are side elevational, rear elevational, and planviews, respectively, of a typical form of aligner;

Figures 6 and '7 are side elevational and rear elevational views,respectively, of one of the strip forwarding mechanisms;

Figures 8, 9, and 10 are side elevational, plan, and end views,respectively, of one arrangement of pinch rolls adapted to control theadvancement of the strip;

Figures 11 and 12 are side elevational and transverse elevational views,respectively, of one arrangement of master pinch rolls;

Figures 13 and 14 are a fragmentary detailed View (shown partly insection) and a rear elevational view, respectively,,of one of theapparatus units designated by the letter V in the line illustrated inFigures 1 and 2;

Figures 15 and 15 are schematic planar projections showing how one formof apparatus embodying the present invention can accommodate differentwidths and numbers of strips, and the relative placement thereof as tothe catenary pinch rolls (designated by reference numerals prefixed withthe letter M) and wind-up reels (designated by reference numeralsprefixed with Figures 16 to 21, inclusive, each shows, in schematicplanar projection, the placement of rolls in the catenary pinch rollunit and how difierent widths of strip, as illustrated in Figures 15 and15 may be accommodated therein in varying numbers.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary side elevation of the catenary furnace employedin conjunction with the present invention;

Fig. .23 is a sectional elevation of the furnace, taken on lineXXII-XXII of Fig. 22;

Figs. 24 and 24A taken together illustrate a wiring diagram of thecomplete electrical control system of the apparatus, Fig. 24A being acontinuation of the diagram of Fig. 24,

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown inFigure 1 a side elevational view of one form of equipment that giveseffect to a preferred arrangement of the invention.

In general, a strip supply depot is indicatedat A, from which one ormore strips are paid successively through an aligner B, a connectingunit 0, intermittently actuated pinch rolls D, from which the strip isguided past an accumulator pit F by aligner units E and G. From thence,the strip is passed through cleaning, rinsing, and drying units H, J,and K, through aligners L to a series of pinch rolls M through M whichare adapted to accommodate one or more strips of varying widths, andwhich are regulative individually to determine the rate of movement ofeach of the strips through the system, as will be described in detailhereinafter. From the pinch roll unit M the strip is conducted throughaligners N and 0, through a heating zone P, which is here illustrated ina form of catenary furnace. From the catenary furnace the strip ispassed through a cooling zone Q, thence through other aligners and guidemeans R and S, to a master pinch roll unit T, from whence it is directedover an accumulator pit U, and thence to the takeups X through X throughguide and control means V and W, all of which will be described morefully hereinafter.

As an example of the capacity and flexibility of one apparatus built inaccordance with the present invention, similar to that shown in theaccompanying drawings, such a line has been designed to handle from onestrip 30" wide to seven strips 6" wide, or narrower. It will, of course,be understood that there is nothing critical about these dimensions,these being but illustratory of one arrangement, and capable of beingvaried within wide limits for the accommodation of a greater or lessernumber of strips of diiferent widths than those here specified. In anycase, the number of strips usually depends on the individual widths ofeach, as dictated by the requirements of the orders being filled, and asapplied to and limited by the capacity of the particular design of lineemployed. In furtherance of the example given, however, the total stripwidth will not exceed 42". Stated another Way, the width of the areaoccupied by all of the strips, which includes the spacing betweenadjacent strips, will not exceed 60". Within those limits, or withingreater or lesser limits for equipment especially designed therefor, anycombinations of widths of strips may be run.

Referring once again to the drawings, the supply depot A may comprise aplurality of horizontal floor stand type reels I for serving strips tothe line, seven in number having been shown so as to be consistent withthe example already given. These may be of any approved construction andmay be varied to suit the taste of the operator.

From the reels I, the strip is passed through aligning device B which,in construction, corresponds to aligners L, N, O, and B, so that onedescription should suffice for all. By reference to Figures 3-5, eachaligner is comprised of side frame members 2 which are set upon suitablemountings or bases 3 adjacent the floor, each side member in relation tothe other being spaced therefrom so as to straddle the line of passageof the strip. A pair of rolls 4 are journaled for rotation in the sideframes 2, and are preferably provided with ball bearings so as to offerthe least possible resistance to the passage of the strip therethroughwhen they are pressed in engagement therewith in performance of theirflattening function. These rolls are preferably idle. Mounted upon thestrip approach side of these aligning rolls. and arranged so that onefalls above and one falls below the passage of the strip, is a pair oftransversely extending plates 5 and 5, which are secured to the uprights2, closely adjacent the ball bearing rolls already described. As will beobserved in the plan view of Figure 5, these plates are provided with aplurality of holes 6 which provide bearings for vertical pin members I,which pins can be selectively a ra ed i t holes in any number requiredto effect lateral spacing and restraint of the strips.

The tail end of one strip is fastened to the lead end of a new coil inany suitable manner, as has been indicated by the articulator C, whichmay be a device for welding the strip together in any approved manner.

Immediately following the welder there are arranged the welder pinchrolls D, which are shown in greater detail in Figures 6 and '7. It willbe seen that this unit comprises a pair of housings Ill having an upperroll I I revolubly journaled therein on stationary bearings l2. Thelower roll !3 is revolubly journaled in the housings it] upon slidablebearings 14 which are adapted to be raised and lowered toward and awayfrom the upper roll H. The slide bearings M of the lower roll areactuated by a plurality of arms i5 which are fulcrumed to the housingsID by pivotal bearings It so as to be moved to raise and lower the slidebearings I 4 .by a fluid cylinder and piston arrangement ll. A motor I8provides power to each of the rolls H and I3 through a suitablereduction gear unit I9 and drive couplings 20.

The normal position of the lower roll is one of spaced relation to theupper roll so that, normally, strips being moved through the line willpass between these rolls without contact therewith, at which time therolls are idle. When any one of the strips being run nears the end ofits length, the lower roll is raised by the fluid cylinder ll so as tosqueeze the strips. Simultaneously, the motor [8 is energized to drivethe rolls H and I3 at surface speeds greater than the normal rectilinearspeed of travel of the strip, whereby an amount of slack strip isinduced to fall in the accumulator pit F. The pinch rolls continue todrive in this fashion until the end of that strip, which is about tobecome exhausted, reaches the connecting unit C, whereupon the pinchrolls D are automatically stopped but remain closed to secure theseveral strips, and particularly the length being operated on by thearticulator, from being pulled forward into the slack pit F by their ownweight. After the connecting step has been completed, the pinch rolls Dare allowed to assume their normal inactive open position in order topermit the resumption of the feeding of the strips from the supply depotA.

It will be observed that this arrangement renders unnecessary thestopping of the strip beyond the accumulator pit during the connectingoperation since, while this is going on, the remainder of the linebeyond the looping pit F continues to operate at the ordinary speed,using the slack strip accumulated in the pit F until the connectingoperation has been completed. With respect to the accumulator pit F, itis desirable that this be provided with a wooden lining 30 to preventmarring the surface of the strip. Also, it is desirable that the stripbe led into and withdrawn from the pit by guide devices E and G whichcomprise a plurality of rolls 3i so spaced to prevent any sharp bends orbreaks in the strip and which may be provided with vertically arrangedspacers 32 similar to those previously described in the case of thealigner B for preventing the lateral displacement of thestrips.

